SRQ DAILY Feb 10, 2023
Friday Weekend Edition
"We have some wonderful new artists joining us in the production and I am excited to present this story for the audience"
The West Coast Black Theatre Troupe’s much-anticipated premiere of Dreamgirls is playing from February 22nd through April 9th. The celebrated Broadway musical, which won six Tony awards and was a box-office hit after being adapted into a 2006 film of the same name, focuses on the rise of the fictional Motown group, “The Dreams” and the challenges they face en route to superstardom. This year’s production, which will see WBTT founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs at the helm, marks the WBTT’s 3rd performance of the show – first at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in 2005, then at the Historic Asolo Theatre in 2007 – and it’s first rendition in the company’s newly renovated Donelly Theater.
“We’re extremely excited about it,” says Jacobs. “We’ve always wanted a better facility to produce this musical in, and now finally, we have it. Over the years we didn’t quite have the funding and auxiliary measures necessary to pull it off, but this time we have the support we need.”
The show fits in well with the rest of WBTT’s production slate for this year. For the company’s 23rd season, the troupe adopted the theme “American Dreams” – opting for productions that focused on the concept of the American Dream and the differing permutations it can have across cultural and racial boundaries. “Dreamgirls follows these young girls who start off at a community talent show and become superstars in the world of music. It deals with all the challenges and consequences of becoming these stars – the jealousy, envy and love that’s intertwined with the journey,” says Jacobs. “We have some wonderful new artists joining us in the production and I’m excited to present this story for the audience.”
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Campus, The Donelly Theatre, 1012 N. Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236 Box office: 941-366-1505. 
Pictured: Portraying members of ‘The Dreams’ are (from l-r) Kyla Bolling, Shena Brown, Caila Carter and Maya Cuevas Photo by Sorcha Augustine.
Multi-platinum, chart-topping GRAMMY® Award winning duo Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo have announced more dates to their 2023 North American headlining tour. The tour stops at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. General on-sale for Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo’s April tour dates begins Friday, February 10 at 10am ET. For more information and tickets, please visit www.benatargiraldo.com/tour or www.VanWezel.org. 2022 proved to be an eventful year for Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, joining a long list of fellow ground-breaking global icons. The duo also celebrated the WORLD PREMIERE presentation of their critically acclaimed INVINCIBLE - THE MUSICAL at The Wallis in Los Angeles. INVINCIBLE – The Musical weaves Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo’s legendary catalogue and inspired new songs throughout a reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of rock and roll! Tickets are $52.48-$132.73 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office. Join the Van Wezel E-Club at www.VanWezel.org to receive early-access presale codes to purchase tickets to newly announced shows before the general public.
Choral Artists of Sarasota’s 44th season, entitled “United in Song,” continues with the Florida premiere of “The Children’s March,” Sunday, March 5, 7 p.m., at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. This moving oratorio by Philadelphia composer Andrew Bleckner tells the story of a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights era—the Children’s Crusade of 1963—when children in Birmingham, Alabama, marched to challenge segregation and were met with a violent response. The concert is narrated by Charlayne Hunter-Gault, an award-winning journalist, author, and school desegregation pioneer. Tickets are $35; students $5. A “Meet the Music” session with Holt is Thursday, February 23, 5:30-7 p.m., at Art to Walk On, 16 South Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota. The event, free to all ticket holders for the concert, includes a wine and hors d'oeuvre reception and a presentation by Holt with vocal soloists for “The Children’s March” highlighting the program. The concert is supported, in part, by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Exchange. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ChoralArtistsSarasota.org or call 941-387-4900.
Photo courtesy of Choral Artists of Sarasota.
Headed by multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter, Becky Buller, the Becky Buller Band brings high energy bluegrass to every stage they traverse. With Buller primarily on fiddle and vocals, she is joined by Jake Eddy (guitar), Daniel Hardin (bass), Wesley Lee (mandolin), and Ned Luberecki (banjo). The award winning group will be coming to Fogartyville on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 for members and $24 for nonmembers. A native of St. James, Minnesota, Becky Buller has been a proficient songwriter for over two decades. She has released five full length albums that foster her passion for bluegrass and lyricism. Buller has also written and composed for the likes of Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and two albums she has written for were Grammy winners (The Infamous Stringdusters’ Laws of Gravity and The Travelin’ McCourys’ self-titled release, 2018 and 2019 respectively). Widely accredited for her own releases, Buller has received ten awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), including winning 2020 Song Of The Year for “Chicago Barn Dance” and 2020 Collaborative Recording of the Year for “The Barber’s Fiddle.” Buller carries her love for bluegrass into music education, and she has been teaching fiddle, singing, and songwriting at workshops around the globe for 20 years. Join the Becky Buller Band at Fogartyville to witness their collaborative passion and expertise.
Pictured: Becky Buller. Photo by Jason Myers.
In its continued efforts to boost the employability skills of community members, Goodwill Manasota has forged a new partnership with Meridian College. Twenty-four students enrolled in the cosmetology department have benefited from coursework presented at Goodwill’s Ranch Lake community room on February 6 and 7.These “seeking employment” classes were led by Heather Hale, cosmetology instructor at Meridian College. As part of the coursework, Hale taught students how cosmetologists find employment and offered guidance on what should be worn to interviews. She gave the students a theoretical budget of $25 and then directed them to select and dress in items from the Ranch Lake retail store. The class then discussed whether these outfits were appropriate, and why. At the close of the class, students were offered the choice of returning their clothing or purchasing any items they liked. Goodwill provided each student with a $10 gift card toward any desired purchases. Hale’s plan is to include this class as part of Meridian’s regular cosmetology curriculum, in partnership with Goodwill, and hold it annually at the Ranch Lake location. For more information, visit experiencegoodwill.org.
Join us as we celebrate the 35-year partnership of the Van Wezel Foundation and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for an intimate experience featuring exceptional dining and Grammy-winning musician Kenny Loggins. Proceeds from the evening will the support the mission of the Van Wezel Foundation: to create and sustain a vibrant perfoming arts center, advance education, and enrich communities by inspiring minds through the power of the arts. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 5:00 Cocktails, Dinner & Program, 8:00 Live Performance. Gala co-chairs: Kathy Martella and Susan Travers. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Julie Schwartz at 941-271-4180 or jschwartz@vwfoundation.org.
"Birds of North America" runs January 6th-February 12th, 2023 at Urbanite Theatre. As birders, John and his daughter Caitlyn adore spending tender autumn days attempting to catch glimpses of elusive birds. But as seasons, the climate, and global politics change, the two find their connection as rare as a red-headed Woodpecker. In a lyrical and endearing family portrait, Birds of North America unfolds in delicate, detailed layers like the scattered leaves of each passing year. For tickets and information contact Ph. (941) 321-1397, Email info@urbanitetheatre.com, Website www.urbanitetheatre.com
Urbanite Theatre , 1487 2nd Street Sarasota FL, 34236
At the turn of the 20th century, years before women had the right to vote, one woman’s breakthrough changed our perception of the stars. Full of wonder, humor, and heart, SILENT SKY is the remarkable true story of Henrietta Leavitt, one of the pioneering women astronomers working at Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s. You will be enthralled by the story of this extraordinary woman who took on the astronomy establishment in order to discover the mysteries embedded in the sky. Henrietta transcended the odds while navigating love, family, and the universe, going on to make a world-altering advancement to the field of astronomy that forever changed our view of the cosmos. Written by one of today’s leading playwrights, Lauren Gunderson, this mesmerizing drama is directed by Seema Sueko, who recently brought this work to life at Washington D.C.’s Ford’s Theatre.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Get inspired to create your own ‘towers of tomorrow’ with over 200,000 loose LEGO® bricks available in hands-on construction areas. Young and old will be limited only by their imagination as they add their creations to a steadily rising futuristic LEGO® metropolis inside the exhibition. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit bishopscience.org.
Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is hosting its annual golf tournament, Scramble for SPARCC, at the Laurel Oak Country Club on Monday, January 16, 2023. With the support of sponsors, community donations and golfers, this tournament raises funds to help provide life-saving, free and confidential programs and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Entry fee is $185.00 per person and includes green fees, individual carts, happy hour light bites, beverages (cash bar available) and player awards. Registration opens at 11:00 AM with a shotgun start at 12:30 PM to kick off the 18-hole scramble. In addition to the golf tournament, there is also a closet to the pin contest, closest to the line contest, golf ball launcher, 50/50 chance drawing, and awards celebration. Co-Chairs for this event are Sandy Fulkerson and Bonnie VanOverbeke.
Always… Patsy Cline created and originally directed by Ted Swindley
Always…Patsy Cline is more than a tribute to the legendary country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963. The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. The musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation, includes many of Patsy’s unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight – 27 songs in all. Feb 2-12, 2023. For tickets visit theplayers.org, Ph. 941-365-2494, email BoxOffice@ThePlayers.org
The Players Centre For Performing Arts, Performance Venue & Box Office The Crossings at Siesta Key 3501 South Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 Sarasota, FL 34239
Chorus, orchestra and soloists sing of ships and their captains, wind and waves, the voyage of every human soul, and music so vivid you can almost taste the sea spray in the air. Vaughan Williams’ setting of Walt Whitman’s sea texts elicit thrilling viscerality in its climactic vision of the individual soul sailing forth ‘for the deep waters only, where mariner has not yet dared to go.’ This large-scale symphony was one of the first to incorporate choir throughout the work and is considered one of the mightiest first symphonies ever composed. Baritone Jamal Sarikoki and soprano Suzanne Karpov add their stunning virtuosity to this epic masterwork.
All ticket buyers are welcome to join us for a special presentation by Mote Marine President and CEO, Dr. Michael P. Crosby, one hour before each concert. Dr. Crosby will reflect on the importance of the sea as he shares Mote’s mission, its groundbreaking research, ocean conservation, education and plans for its exciting future with Oceans for All!
Visit keychorale.org for more information and to purchase tickets. Church of the Palms,
3224 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota.
Follow the beat of happy feet to a magical place where art and literacy meet. It’s all on the avenue we’re taking you to…Storybook Street! The Early Learning Coalition's FREE, family-friendly, book-themed wonderland returns—this time to Suncoast Technical College in Sarasota. Storybook Street will once again collaborate with more than a dozen local arts and culture organizations to bring children’s books to life. Designed for children ages birth to 7, this year’s extravaganza will be an in-person event. The event will feature dance, drama, art, music, movement and more. Preschool-level performances will be coupled with engaging, hands-on, age-appropriate activities for young children to enjoy. No registration necessary. Just show up (early) with a smile! The first 400 families will have an opportunity to walk away with 16 new children’s books each, a swag bag of goodies as well as meaningful, memorable moments to help foster an early love of reading. To enjoy the full experience, the Coalition recommends arriving before 10am since families will likely take more than an hour to visit all the booths and collect books. Children are welcome to dress up as their favorite storybook character!
Visit earlylearningcoalitionsarasota.org for more information.
This monthly gathering of car enthusiasts brings together automobile lovers from every walk of life, not to mention a wide array of spectacular cars. Bring your own vehicle (all makes and models are welcome) to show off, or check out the hundreds of cars on display. Each month, the event sponsors a different charity, and attendees are encouraged to donate $10 to benefit the charity. The event, occuring on the second Sunday of each month, will feature live music, complimentary coffee and more. To learn more, visit facebook.com/carsandcoffee941. Sarasota Cars and Coffee, The West District at University Town Center near Ford’s Garage, 295 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota.
On February 11-12, the Gulfcoast Studio Company of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School will present a program celebrating love in two acts. The first act features modern-day romantic classical and contemporary pieces. The second act showcases the eternal love of Swan Lake with highlights of the traditional “White Swan” choreography and Tchaikovsky’s haunting music.
There will be 3 intimate black box performances at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School’s auditorium on Saturday, February 11 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and Sunday, February 12 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $35. Visit srqcubanballet.org to learn more and purchase tickets.
Join Geckos Grill and Pubs, your #BestSportsBar for the Big Game and the most super seat outside of Glendale! Seating is limited so reserve today with a $25 per person deposit. Reserved guests will receive a $25 GC to use on Big Game day (must be present 15 minutes before kick-off). Giveaways | Gecko’s special football menu & new cocktail menu | Small batch spirits + our usual huge variety of craft beer & award-winning Happy Hours! Ask your friendly server or barkeep for more details and reserve today! www.GeckosGrill.com
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